Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire is a young adult and fantasy novel written by Irish playwright Derek Landy, published in April 2008. It is the second of the Skulduggery Pleasant series and sequel to the novel of the same name.
The story follows the sorcerers and detectives Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant and numerous magic-wielding allies as they try to prevent Baron Vengeous and his forces from resurrecting the Grotesquery and returning the Faceless Ones to the world, it also is good for all magic lovers. The book did not see release in the US and Canada until 2018. HarperCollins Audio also publishes the unabridged CD sets of the books read by Rupert Degas.
In 2009, it won the award of Senior Irish Children's Book of the Year.
Plot summary
One year after the events of the first novel, Valkyrie Cain (formerly known as Stephanie Edgely) continues to work with Skulduggery Pleasant, an undead skeleton detective, capturing villains on the behalf of The Sanctuary, now ruled by Thurid Guild in a new location after the massacre in the previous Sanctuary.
Soon, Baron Vengeous (one of the original three Generals of the Elemental Mevolent) escapes his prison and begins searching for the armour of Lord Vile, another one of Mevolent's Generals with which he will be able to resurrect the Grotesquery, a hybrid monster made from a Faceless One's remains with the power bring back the Faceless Ones. Arriving in Ireland, he meets an accomplice - a vampire named Dusk who owed a debt to him. He orders Dusk to kidnap Valkyrie Cain. Dusk infects two humans to help him. Meanwhile, a skilled London woman named Tanith Low arrests Springheeled Jack after a fight.
After losing to Skulduggery Pleasant, Baron Vengeous goes after China Sorrows, who was once part of a cult that worshipped the Faceless Ones and also included Serpine and Vengous himself. The Baron confronts Sorrows in her apartment whilst Valkyrie is visiting. Valkyrie hides whilst China and Vengeous talk. Vengeous reveals that he was released from prison by an assassin named Billy-Ray Sanguine who promptly arrives along with Dusk. A battle ensues during which Valkyrie reveals herself and defends China. Valkyrie Cain is soon chased by Sanguine, who can travel through earth and buildings. After a struggle, Valkyrie is saved by Tanith Low. In the process, Valkyrie steals Billy-Ray Sanguine's straight razor.
Valkyrie and Skulduggery arrive at the Magician's village of Roarhaven to find a mysterious man called the Torment who has information they need about the Grotesquery. The Torment says he will only help them find the Grotesquery if Skulduggery kills Valkyrie, who is descended from the Ancients (whom the Torment despises as he thinks any usage of power will corrupt civilization). Skulduggery and Valkyrie trick the Torment by shooting a magical Reflection of Valkryie. The Torment is satisfied and tells Skulduggery the whereabouts of the Grotesquery. He and Valkyrie go to Bancrook Castle to find the Grotesquery, but Vengeous's minions have already obtained it. Soon after, Skulduggery and Valkyrie take the reflection back to Valkyrie's house. Valkyrie touches the mirror to absorb its memories and remembers what it is like to be shot. Valkyrie then notices that whenever she tries to look back in her memories one part always remains blank and she cannot pin it down. She realizes that her reflection hid something from her, and finds it disconcerting and dangerous. However, she goes on with Skulduggery without mentioning it to him.